The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that a tragic accident on Sunday along the Lokoja-Obajana Road claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals, with eight others sustaining various injuries.
Kogi State Sector Commander, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, shared the details of the incident with journalists in Lokoja on Monday. According to him, the crash occurred around 4 p.m. in the Gadabiu area of Lokoja Local Government Area.
Tsukwam reported that five children were among those who died in the accident, which involved a collision between a Toyota Hummer bus traveling toward Abuja and an articulated truck.
Preliminary findings revealed that the bus, reportedly speeding, attempted to overtake another vehicle and ended up colliding head-on with an oncoming truck. The force of the collision resulted in a fire that led to multiple fatalities.
“A total of 27 people were involved in the crash, with only eight surviving. Unfortunately, the accident was caused by excessive speed and improper overtaking,” Tsukwam stated.
Emergency responders from the FRSC, alongside police officers, were able to rescue the survivors and transport them to Fisayo Hospital in Obajana for urgent medical treatment. The injured reportedly suffered from burns, cuts, dislocations, and fractures.
The sector commander urged motorists to obey traffic laws and avoid dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding and reckless overtaking. He emphasized that highways should not be treated like racetracks and stressed the importance of safety in preventing further road tragedies.